Demonstrative Pronouns

01

"this" and "that"

• tas / ta - that (the general, default pointer)
• šis / ši - this (something near, or just mentioned)

• tas vyras

  that man.

• ši knyga

  this book.

• Kas tas žmogus?

  Who is that person?

Lithuanian does not insist on the this/that distinction as strictly as English; tas is extremely common for both, with šis reserved for something genuinely close or current.

02

They Agree and Decline

Like any adjective-type word, the demonstrative follows its noun into gender, number and case:

• Matau tą vyrą.

  I see that man. (accusative)

• Šioje knygoje.

  In this book. (locative, feminine)

• tie žmonės

  those people. (plural)

• su tuo draugu

  with that friend. (instrumental)

03

How "tas" Declines

For reference, tas (that) runs through the singular masculine cases as tas, to, tam, tą, tuo, tame, and the feminine ta as ta, tos, tai, tą, ta, toje. The plural begins tie (masculine) and tos (feminine):

• to žmogaus

  of that person. (genitive)

• tame name

  in that house. (locative)

• tie vaikai

  those children. (plural)

You will recognise these endings - they are the same ones that adjectives take.

04

"toks" - Such

toks / tokia means "such a, that kind of", and also agrees with its noun:

• Toks geras žmogus!

  Such a good person!

• Nemačiau tokio dalyko.

  I have not seen such a thing.

• Tokia graži diena.

  Such a beautiful day.

05

Standing on Their Own

A demonstrative can drop its noun and stand alone as "this one / that one", taking whatever case the sentence needs:

• Duok man tą.

  Give me that one.

• Šis geresnis.

  This one is better.

06

"tas pats" - The Same

Combined with pats (self), the demonstrative means "the same":

• Tas pats žmogus.

  The same person.

• Tuo pačiu metu.

  At the same time.

07

"tai" - This Is / That Is

The little word tai is a fixed, neutral pointer used to introduce or identify something, much like English "this is" / "that is". It does not change for gender or number:

• Tai mano draugas.

  This is my friend.

• Tai gera mintis.

  That is a good idea.

• Kas tai?

  What is this?

Keep tai (the unchanging "this is") apart from tas / ta (the declining "that" before a noun) - they look related but do different jobs.